Build on Incredible with ASUS Z97 Motherboards

If you haven't upgraded in a while, Z97 may be just the right time and ASUS Z97 the right board for you. Compatible with existing and future LGA 1150 CPUs, ASUS Z97 motherboards deliver the aesthetics, features and reliability you need for the perfect build now, with flexibility to upgrade later.

AWARD - Z97-Deluxe (NFC & WLC)

AWARD - Z97-Pro (Wi-Fi ac)

AWARD - Z97-A

AWARD - Z97-Deluxe (NFC & WLC)

AWARD - Z97-A

AWARD - MAXIMUS VII Hero

AWARD - MAXIMUS VII Gene

AWARD - Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1

AWARD - Z97-WS

ASUS Z97 Comparison Table

Not sure which Z97 motherboard is right for you? Click here to easily compare features and select the perfect board for your build.

ASUS Z97 Comparison Table

Not sure which Z97 motherboard is right for you? Click here to easily compare features and select the perfect board for your build.

ASUS Z97 Comparison Table

Not sure which Z97 motherboard is right for you? Click here to easily compare features and select the perfect board for your build.

NEW! World’s First Z97 Motherboards with USB 3.1

With USB 3.1 Boost, you can enjoy performance far beyond what the competition can offer, ensuring your build is not only future-ready for USB 3.1 devices, but also making the most of the increased bandwidth. Z97 Motherboards with integrated USB 3.0: SABERTOOTH Z97 Mark 1/USB 3.1, Z97-DELUXE/USB 3.1, Z97-PRO(WI-FI AC)/USB 3.1, Z97-A/USB 3.1

NEW! World’s First Z97 Motherboards with USB 3.1

With USB 3.1 Boost, you can enjoy performance far beyond what the competition can offer, ensuring your build is not only future-ready for USB 3.1 devices, but also making the most of the increased bandwidth. Z97 Motherboards with integrated USB 3.0: SABERTOOTH Z97 Mark 1/USB 3.1, Z97-DELUXE/USB 3.1, Z97-PRO(WI-FI AC)/USB 3.1, Z97-A/USB 3.1

NEW! World’s First Z97 Motherboards with USB 3.1

With USB 3.1 Boost, you can enjoy performance far beyond what the competition can offer, ensuring your build is not only future-ready for USB 3.1 devices, but also making the most of the increased bandwidth. Z97 Motherboards with integrated USB 3.0: SABERTOOTH Z97 Mark 1/USB 3.1, Z97-DELUXE/USB 3.1, Z97-PRO(WI-FI AC)/USB 3.1, Z97-A/USB 3.1

NEW! World’s First Z97 Motherboards with USB 3.1

With USB 3.1 Boost, you can enjoy performance far beyond what the competition can offer, ensuring your build is not only future-ready for USB 3.1 devices, but also making the most of the increased bandwidth. Z97 Motherboards with integrated USB 3.0: SABERTOOTH Z97 Mark 1/USB 3.1, Z97-DELUXE/USB 3.1, Z97-PRO(WI-FI AC)/USB 3.1, Z97-A/USB 3.1

NEW! USB 3.1 2-Port Card

Even if you’ve already built your system, you can still get USB 3.1 ready on ASUS B85, Z97 and X99 motherboards with this card and a UEFI update.

NEW! USB 3.1 2-Port Card

Even if you’ve already built your system, you can still get USB 3.1 ready on ASUS B85, Z97 and X99 motherboards with this card and a UEFI update.

NEW! USB 3.1 2-Port Card

Even if you’ve already built your system, you can still get USB 3.1 ready on ASUS B85, Z97 and X99 motherboards with this card and a UEFI update.

NEW! USB 3.1 2-Port Card

Even if you’ve already built your system, you can still get USB 3.1 ready on ASUS B85, Z97 and X99 motherboards with this card and a UEFI update.

Mini-ITX. Max Specs. Round 2.

New for Z97, the Maximus VII Impact continues the legacy of redefining what is possible on Mini-ITX from the original groundbreaking Maximus VI Impact.

A host of new features have been upgraded on Maximus VII Impact to create the most complete gaming and overclocking experience on Mini-ITX. Impact Power II delivers a full complement of 60A BlackWing Chokes, NexFET MOSFETs and 10K Black Metallic Capacitors to ensure oustanding, stable overclocking. SupremeFX Impact II, the discrete daughterboard that delivers unparalleled audio includes ELNA® Premium Audio Capacitors for warm sound Sonic SenseAmp for automatic headphone impedence detection and Sonic SoundStage for hardware-level audio profile switching. New Sonic Studio software rounds out the package, with intelligent virtual surround reproduction with both presets and near-infinite configurability.

Better. Faster. Stronger.

Both small and speedy, the Maximus VII Impact embraces technology to drive transfer rates up both inside and outside the system.

It all starts with the mPCIe Combo IV daughtercard. Upgraded to accommodate PCIe M.2 x4 SSDs, the mPCIe Combo IV is future-ready, able to accommodate PCIe M.2 drives with up to 32Gb/s theoretical transfer speed. The other half of the card delivers dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 to ensure maximum throughput, even when your portable rig is on-the-go. Integrated Intel® I218 Gb Ethernet with GameFirst III ensures minimal lag when gaming on a hardline. And for maximum longevity, All I/O is protected by a new black nickel-coated Q-shield, which is designed for durability, and to prevent nicks and cuts during installation.

CrossChill Copper & ROG Armor

First introduced on Maximus V Formula, CrossChill Copper takes hybrid VRM cooling to the next level, incorporating a copper channel with a multitude of radiating fins to maximize surface area for heat dissipation. While already excellent under air cooling, the G1/4” threaded design allows you to easily add VRM cooling to nearly any existing watercooling loop for even greater cooling capability. ROG Armor features a combination of sturdy ABS plastic on the front and SECC steel on the back of Maximus VII Formula to facilitate heat dissipation, prevent dust accumulation and add rigidity to virtually eliminate potential warping.

SupremeFX Formula 2014

Renowned for having the best audio among all ROG motherboards, Maximus VII Formula takes all the improvements of SupremeFX 2014 even further.

VIDEO: ASUS Z97-Deluxe Overview

VIDEO: ROG Maximus VII Hero Overview

Dual Intelligent Processors 5 with 5-Way Optimization

Widely heralded on Z97, 4-Way has now evolved to 5-Way on ASUS Z97, with significant upgrades to TPU & Fan Xpert 3 and the all-new Turbo App.

Starting with the Turbo Processing Unit (TPU), 5-Way Optimization performs Auto Tuning, which automatically overclocks the CPU to within ~95% of its potential, a process that typically could take up to 2 days to manually overclock. Alternatively, Auto Tuning can also be configured to target a specific frequency or temperature threshold.

The process then moves to the Energy Processing Unit (EPU), which customizes power saving profiles for periods of light use or idle states. Next, DIGI+ VRM optimizes digital power settings to take full advantage of the CPU's built-in digital power delivery, creating a more precise and stable overclocking experience through OCP and LLC presets.

Fan Xpert 3 then calibrates each case fan connected to your motherboard (PWM & DC are both supported) to create selectable cooling profiles that can be further customized. Lastly, Turbo App allows for overclocking, audio and network profiles to be assigned to individual applications. Customizing with Turbo App allows users to apply overclocking profiles when needed for intensive applications such as games, and reduce frequencies to preserve longevity when the performance is less needed.

ROG DNA & Design

Since 2006, ASUS Republic of Gamers has forged and upheld a legacy of delivering game-changing innovation, working hand-in-hand with the enthusiast community.

By combining R&D expertise with the knowledge & experience of leading overclockers & gaming enthusiasts from around the world, ROG continues to pioneer, while others struggle to catch up. Each generation brings with it new noteworthy innovations.

These efforts have delivered numerous industry-first features for gaming and overclocking, with gamers and enthusiasts alike reaping the benefits. SupremeFX™ audio, hybrid VRM cooling, ROG Connect, OC Key, VGA Hotwire OC Station and many others have paved the way for new features in the latest Z87 ROG Motherboards.

TUF Components and Testing

TUF Chokes have been upgraded to a new alloy and new design, delivering operating temperatures of up to 9.35°C cooler versus standard chokes. GU-series 10k Japanese Black Metallic Capacitors provide a 20% boost to the operating temperature of the capacitors on both ends of the spectrum, as well as increased lifespan. And to back it all up, each TUF motherboard is subjected to an extensive battery of military-grade tests of the capacitors, chokes and MOSFETs to ensure components perform and are as reliable as promised. A Certificate of Reliability detailing these tests is included with every TUF motherboard as proof-of-execution.

The Most Expandability

Fan Controls & Fan Xpert 3

With PWM support on all fan headers and upgrades to software in both UEFI and Fan Xpert 3, ASUS Z97 Motherboards deliver unprecedented fan control.

To make the most of full PWM control on all fan headers, fan calibration and fan curve adjustment were both added to UEFI, as well as the ability to map different fans to different heat sensors on the motherboard. This allows end users to take advantage of advanced cooling, regardless of operating system. Fan Xpert 3 has also gotten an upgrade.

Along with fan calibration and fan curve adjustment, users will be happy to find that once a fan is calibrated, a lookup table is populated which provides fan RPM at regular power/duty cycle intervals. This helps take the guesswork out of planning fan curves, since many fans do not follow a linear progression. users can even set spin up and spin down times for fans, to ensure that brief increases or decreases in temperature are not accompanied by frequent changes in fan RPM.

Fan Controls & Fan Xpert 3

With PWM support on all fan headers and upgrades to software in both UEFI and Fan Xpert 3, ASUS Z97 Motherboards deliver unprecedented fan control.

To make the most of full PWM control on all fan headers, fan calibration and fan curve adjustment were both added to UEFI, as well as the ability to map different fans to different heat sensors on the motherboard. This allows end users to take advantage of advanced cooling, regardless of operating system. Fan Xpert 3 has also gotten an upgrade.

Along with fan calibration and fan curve adjustment, users will be happy to find that once a fan is calibrated, a lookup table is populated which provides fan RPM at regular power/duty cycle intervals. This helps take the guesswork out of planning fan curves, since many fans do not follow a linear progression. users can even set spin up and spin down times for fans, to ensure that brief increases or decreases in temperature are not accompanied by frequent changes in fan RPM.

Fan Controls & Fan Xpert 3

With PWM support on all fan headers and upgrades to software in both UEFI and Fan Xpert 3, ASUS Z97 Motherboards deliver unprecedented fan control.

To make the most of full PWM control on all fan headers, fan calibration and fan curve adjustment were both added to UEFI, as well as the ability to map different fans to different heat sensors on the motherboard. This allows end users to take advantage of advanced cooling, regardless of operating system. Fan Xpert 3 has also gotten an upgrade. Along with fan calibration and fan curve adjustment, users will be happy to find that once a fan is calibrated, a lookup table is populated which provides fan RPM at regular power/duty cycle intervals. This helps take the guesswork out of planning fan curves, since many fans do not follow a linear progression. users can even set spin up and spin down times for fans, to ensure that brief increases or decreases in temperature are not accompanied by frequent changes in fan RPM.

SupremeFX 2014

Audio is a critical contributor to a great gaming experience and often plays a role in your K/D Ratio. We’ve invested substantial R&D to perfect onboard audio and SupremeFX is the exquisite result.

ROG has once again upped the ante for onboard audio, with cutting-edge isolation technologies to minimize electromagnetic interference (EMI) and premium ELNA® audio capacitors to deliver a warmer, natural sound. The new Sonic SenseAmp automatically detects headphone impedance (32/ 150ohms and higher) and adjusts the built-in amp accordingly. Sonic Studio, a brand-new set of audio-tuning tools includes a Virtual Surround function and powerful audio controls including Reverb, Bass Boost, Equalizer, Voice Clarity and Smart EQ.

Thermal Armor

A combination of form and function, Z97 Thermal Armor has been upgraded to further increase cooling and reduce dust.

The airflow channels created by Thermal Armor provide targeted cooling for critical components such as the VRM, chokes and capacitors. A larger diameter 40 mm I/O fan joins the 35 mm cover fan to further increase directed airflow. This additional cooling can be optimized for different CPU cooling scenarios. By opening the two airflow valves, greater circulation can be achieved for air cooling scenarios, while closing the valves will focus the airflow into the Thermal Armor channels, ideal for systems using self-contained liquid CPU coolers.

Convection holes placed in key locations around the CPU socket and VRM allow airflow to be directed to the back of the motherboard, where it is then dissipated by the TUF Fortifier backplate.

The surface of TUF Thermal Armor itself helps to minimize dust that settles on motherboard components. To complement this protection is Dust Defender, which includes inserts for nearly all I/O, both inside and out. Dust Defender inserts can occupy unused ports, keeping them free of dust until ready to be utilized.

5-Way Optimization

Widely heralded on Z97, 4-Way has now evolved to 5-Way on ASUS Z97, with significant upgrades to TPU & Fan Xpert 3 and the all-new Turbo App.

Starting with the Turbo Processing Unit (TPU), 5-Way Optimization performs Auto Tuning, which automatically overclocks the CPU to within ~95% of its potential, a process that typically could take up to 2 days to manually overclock. Alternatively, Auto Tuning can also be configured to target a specific frequency or temperature threshold.

The process then moves to the Energy Processing Unit (EPU), which customizes power saving profiles for periods of light use or idle states. Next, DIGI+ VRM optimizes digital power settings to take full advantage of the CPU's built-in digital power delivery, creating a more precise and stable overclocking experience through OCP and LLC presets.

Fan Xpert 3 then calibrates each case fan connected to your motherboard (PWM & DC are both supported) to create selectable cooling profiles that can be further customized. Lastly, Turbo App allows for overclocking, audio and network profiles to be assigned to individual applications. Customizing with Turbo App allows users to apply overclocking profiles when needed for intensive applications such as games, and reduce frequencies to preserve longevity when the performance is less needed.

UEFI

Whether you’re a PC novice or seasoned overclocker, the new EZ and Advanced UEFI Modes on ASUS Z97 motherboards help you find your way, quickly and easily.

Through one intuitive dashboard in EZ Mode, users can now easily make on-the-fly adjustments to fan cooling curves, identify all SATA devices, adjust clock & language and even overclock or setup a RAID array. Moving over to advanced mode provides access to fan calibration and customization. IRST is also fully integrated into UEFI, providing full access to RAID array creation. UEFI settings can even be saved to a profile and exported to a flash drive.

UEFI

Whether you’re a PC novice or seasoned overclocker, the new EZ and Advanced UEFI Modes on ASUS Z97 motherboards help you find your way, quickly and easily.

Through one intuitive dashboard in EZ Mode, users can now easily make on-the-fly adjustments to fan cooling curves, identify all SATA devices, adjust clock & language and even overclock or setup a RAID array. Moving over to advanced mode provides access to fan calibration and customization. IRST is also fully integrated into UEFI, providing full access to RAID array creation. UEFI settings can even be saved to a profile and exported to a flash drive.

Intel® Gigabit Ethernet with LANGuard

Intel® Gigabit Ethernet provides up to 2x the throughput and 1/5 the CPU usage when compared to other gaming LAN technologies.

When fully-utilized, the Intel I218 controller on ROG motherboards occupies only 1-2‰ CPU usage, offloading much of this processing onto the controller itself. Comparable gaming LAN technologies occupy roughly 6-8%. While the difference in utilization may not seem significant, wouldn’t you rather have every spare processing cycle dedicated for the game itself?

Warranty & APS

All ASUS Z97 Motherboards include a 3-year warranty. In addition, Z97-Pro and above qualify for ASUS Premium Service (APS), with complimentary advance replacement during the 1st year if problems arise.

Warranty & APS

All ASUS ROG Z97 Motherboards include a 3-year warranty and qualify for ASUS Premium Service (APS), which includes complimentary advance replacement during the 1st year if problems arise.

TUF Fortifier

Reinforced metal plate on the back of TUF Z97 motherboards provides stability against warping, as well as increased heat dissipation.

The TUF Fortifier utilizes SECC (steel, electrogalvanized, cold-rolled, coil), similar to that which is used in PC chassis for its excellent corrosion resistance and ability to conduct heat away from its sources. While most PC chassis now utilize 0.5-0.7 mm SECC, the TUF Fortifier is 1.0 mm thick, ensuring maximum long-term stability for the motherboard. The TUF fortifier does not interfere with existing standoffs, allowing for conventional motherboard installation without raising the height of the motherboard itself.

Extensive Drive Options

TPU & Auto Tuning

Arguably the leading feature in 5-Way Optimization, Auto Tuning has been further refined to accommodate a variety of overclockers.

While most recognize the importance and benefit of overclocking, the familiarity and comfort with the practice of overclocking is a bit more varied. With this in mind, Auto Tuning was refined for Z97 by maintaining the automated “default” settings, while also increasing the flexibility of the process. Rather than just pushing the CPU to its ultimate limit, users can now set a frequency target, temperature ceiling and even change the duration of the stress test that’s run as part of the process from 15 seconds up to an hour.

ROG Armaments

Accessories such as OC Panel and Front Base are more than just eye candy. They provide functionality and control on a hardware level.

Introduced on ROG Z97 motherboards, the groundbreaking OC Panel provides a wealth of hardware level controls when used in handheld mode for extreme overclocking, and can also be installed in a single 5¼ drive bay to access one-click overclocking and fan controls.

The newly-launched ROG front base is the gamer’s command center. Occupying 2 5¼ drive bays, the large 4” display gives real-time updates on fan speed, CPU frequency, temperature and more. An integrated USB port enables mobile device charging, even when the PC is off. You can even switch audio profiles, overclock and change fan speeds through its intuitive user interface.

Thermal Radar 2

The TUF Ice dedicated microprocessor takes over the processing duties for Thermal Radar 2 on Z97, making it the most comprehensive cooling solution to date.

All fan headers on new TUF Z97 motherboards support PWM fans, and can even control the fans on ASUS GeForce GTX 700 series graphics cards. Between the 12 onboard sensors and thermistor-based temperature monitoring and the advanced fan controls of Thermal Tuning, Thermal Radar 2 is tasked with a fairly significant workload. TUF ICe was developed to offload this control from the CPU, which enables rapid response time for cooling and more accurate reporting.

The Most Reliable Components

The Z97-WS has the ultimate combination of components designed for long-term uptime, including 12k capacitors, a world’s first for motherboards.

Beyond capacitors, the Z97-WS also features ProCool power connectors, which have lower resistance and heat due to precision molding that improves pin contact. Beat Thermal Chokes and Dr. MOS MOSFETs work together to offer a 4° C improvement over traditional implementations.

New Storage Standards

With SSDs approaching the limits of SATA 6 Gb/s, new standards such as SATA Express and M.2 have emerged to alleviate this bottleneck.

A single SATA Express port can deliver transfer speeds up to 10 Gb/s. This port is also backwards compatible, and can be utilized as 2 SATA 6 Gb/s ports, providing flexibility to upgrade to SATA Express drives when they become more readily available. An integrated M.2 slot supports both 2260 and 2280 M.2 SSDs and can achieve up to 10 Gb/s transfer rate with PCIe-based M.2 drives.

UEFI - EZ

Just because a mode is labeled “EZ” doesn’t mean functionality should be limited. Each section of EZ Mode has been placed for usability.

Through one intuitive dashboard, you can now easily make on-the-fly adjustments to fan cooling curves, identify all SATA devices, adjust clock and language and even overclock or setup a RAID array. The new guided wizards allow you to overclock just by answering a few simple questions about your usage and cooling scenarios and the RAID wizard can configure an array for you through a few simple prompts.

Mark 1, Mark 2

The introduction of the Sabertooth Z97 Mark 2 ensures TUF component quality can fit any budget. Users can now choose between armored or unarmored.

ASUS Dr. Power

ASUS Dr. Power automatically detects and notifies when system power demands exceed the PSU rating, helping to prevent unexpected shutdowns and PSU damage.

Crystal Sound

Once reserved for strictly for ROG motherboards, discrete-quality audio has been brought to mainstream motherboards, with the perfect combination of hardware and software.

Onboard physical shielding greatly reduces interference, while premium Japanese-made capacitors deliver warm, natural and immersive sound perfect for gaming or kicking back with a movie or some music. In addition, a new dedicated de-pop circuit also helps eliminate annoying start-up pop.

UEFI – Advanced

Advanced mode picks up right where EZ Mode leaves off without missing a beat. Upgrades to both UI and feature set make Advanced Mode even more robust and intuitive.

Full calibration of both DC & PWM fans and the ability to map each fan to a specific heat source enables accurate customization of fan curves and targeted cooling with minimal noise. IRST is also fully integrated into UEFI, allowing you to configure more advanced RAID arrays without CTRL-I. You can even save your UEFI settings to a profile and export to a flash drive. Full ASUS Graphics Card information can also be accessed right in UEFI.

UEFI

Whether you’re a PC novice or seasoned overclocker, the new EZ and Advanced UEFI Modes on ASUS Z97 motherboards help you find your way, quickly and easily.

Through one intuitive dashboard in EZ Mode, users can now easily make on-the-fly adjustments to fan cooling curves, identify all SATA devices, adjust clock & language and even overclock or setup a RAID array. Moving over to advanced mode provides access to fan calibration and customization. IRST is also fully integrated into UEFI, providing full access to RAID array creation. UEFI settings can even be saved to a profile and exported to a flash drive.

Dual Intel Ethernet

Turbo App

The newest Optimization - Turbo App - enables per-app customization of overclocking, networking and audio, giving you performance when you need it, while enhancing the lifespan of your PC.

Although overclocking enables the maximum performance of the CPU, by reducing the frequency during less strenuous tasks, such as productivity or multimedia, the lifespan of the system can be extended. In addition, easily setting network priority for an application ensures games get the priority they need.

PCIe M.2

With SSDs approaching the limits of SATA 6 Gb/s, PCIe-based M.2 drives are able to achieve upwards of 10 Gb/s transfer speeds.

APS 5-Year Warranty

Each TUF motherboard undergoes military-grade testing & certification and is backed by a 5-year warranty.

ASUS ServerCare

The Z97-WS qualifies for ASUS ServerCare, which backs the board with complimentary 1-day advance replacement for the first year of ownership.

Intel® Gigabit Ethernet with Turbo LAN

Gamers know that lag is a detriment to their K/D ratio. The right combination of networking hardware and software can help ensure in-game performance is determined solely by skill.

Intel® Gigabit Ethernet reduces network-incurred CPU usage and power consumption by up to 90% under high loads, freeing up this horsepower for in-game processing. Combined with Turbo LAN with cFosSpeed traffic-shaping technology, this combination of hardware and software help increase performance, and keep lag at a minimum with minimal knowledge required. Expert users can tweak even further using Advanced Mode to access more granular controls.

GameFirst III

Going beyond just hardware, GameFirst III is the ideal networking complement to Intel® Gigabit LAN, working together to minimize lag.

The networking tools contained in the GameFirst III package are both intuitive and flexible. With 4 built-in packet-priority modes, gamers can easily switch between Game, Media Streaming and File Sharing modes or just use the Optimization Mode to let Game First III automatically prioritize all packets. On top of this, individual applications can be customized with priority and manual bandwidth control. Monitoring tools are also included, which allow you to monitor network traffic, measure available bandwidth with the ISP and view current connection status.

TUF ESD Guards

At nearly twice the industry standard for ESD guards, the back I/O of TUF Z97 motherboards ensure all electrostatic discharges are properly grounded.

Q-Code Logger

Exclusive to the Z97-WS, Q-Code Logger enables easier diagnosis of problems that arise by outputting Q-Codes to an external flash drive.

Push Alert

With the increased number of functions PCs are tasked with, the likelihood a PC will be on 24/7 increases. Push alert helps ensure everything is working properly.

Easy to configure and use, push alert allows the PC to instantly send messages to linked tablets and smartphones if the CPU is overheating, voltage has gone too high or a scheduled task has run. Simply set up the interface on the PC, link it to the smartphone/tablet while on the local network, and push alert can pass these messages even when devices are outside the local network.

ROG Audio Suite Upgrades

More and more gamers are graduating to high-end headsets for gaming or general content consumption, and Sonic SenseAmp is able detect headphone impedance up to 150 ohms and adjust the built-in amp automatically.

Sonic SoundStage enables the audio to be customized based on the type of game you’re playing from FPS to racing to sports. These profiles are even saved at a hardware level.

New Storage Options

ThunderboltEX II

Now you can easily add Thunderbolt™ 2 technology to your existing or planned ASUS Z97 build with the ASUS Thunderbolt EX II card.

Previously available only as an onboard feature on high-end motherboards, Thunderbolt™ 2 technology is now available on a wide variety of ASUS Z97 motherboards thanks to the ASUS ThunderboltEX II card. Easily add a Thunderbolt™ 2 port to your ASUS Z97 PC, whether it’s already been built, or still in planning stages.

Home Cloud

ASUS Home Cloud contains a variety of features designed to improve productivity and provide entertainment, whether at home or on-the-go.

Remote access of files is just the beginning. Media streamer can stream entertainment to any mobile device on any network through a simple app. It can even be used to transfer a stream from the desktop to a smart TV. Wi-Fi GO! is now also part of the Home Cloud suite, with the same useful functions such as remote desktop, file transfer, Cloud-service integration and peripheral control.

KeyBot

A hardware-based macro application that instantly upgrades your keyboard, KeyBot unlocks a variety of functions for gaming or even general usage.

A dedicated microprocessor allows KeyBot to execute certain functions even when the PC is off. You can map existing keys to overclock, enable XMP or boot directly into UEFI. Once in Windows, keys can be mapped to execute keyboard combinations, open specific applications, perform multimedia functions or even login to Windows.

New Sonic Radar 2

Introduced in Z87 to give FPS players a leg up, Sonic Radar 2 can now be customized to display specific sounds that are most important for survival.

Testing & Validation

Over 1000 devices and components are validated as part of the 7000+ hours of testing that are invested into ASUS Z97 motherboards to ensure compatibility and reliability.

From flash drives to memory modules to RAID cards and even mice used in UEFI, compatibility is paramount. ASUS tests a wide variety of components from countless manufacturers to ensure everything connected to the motherboard functions as expected. Beyond compatibility, ASUS Z97 motherboards also go through a grueling battery of tests from temperature & humidity to salt spray designed to test the long-term reliability of motherboard components.

Testing & Validation

Over 1000 devices and components are validated as part of the 7000+ hours of testing that are invested into ASUS Z97 motherboards to ensure compatibility and reliability.

From flash drives to memory modules to RAID cards and even mice used in UEFI, compatibility is paramount. ASUS tests a wide variety of components from countless manufacturers to ensure everything connected to the motherboard functions as expected. Beyond compatibility, ASUS Z97 motherboards also go through a grueling battery of tests from temperature & humidity to salt spray designed to test the long-term reliability of motherboard components.

Testing & Validation

Over 1000 devices and components are validated as part of the 7000+ hours of testing that are invested into ASUS Z97 motherboards to ensure compatibility and reliability.

From flash drives to memory modules to RAID cards and even mice used in UEFI, compatibility is paramount. ASUS tests a wide variety of components from countless manufacturers to ensure everything connected to the motherboard functions as expected. Beyond compatibility, ASUS Z97 motherboards also go through a grueling battery of tests from temperature & humidity to salt spray designed to test the long-term reliability of motherboard components.

Testing & Validation

Over 1000 devices and components are validated as part of the 7000+ hours of testing that are invested into ASUS Z97 motherboards to ensure compatibility and reliability.

From flash drives to memory modules to RAID cards and even mice used in UEFI, compatibility is paramount. ASUS tests a wide variety of components from countless manufacturers to ensure everything connected to the motherboard functions as expected. Beyond compatibility, ASUS Z97 motherboards also go through a grueling battery of tests from temperature & humidity to salt spray designed to test the long-term reliability of motherboard components.

NFC Express 2

Entering its second generation, the innovative NFC Express 2 allows an NFC-enabled smartphone or tablet to execute a variety of tasks.

The new video-to-go feature allows a video being played back on the PC to be instantly transferred to the mobile device with full resume support. Tap-to-pair Bluetooth pairing allows the mobile device to easily output audio to the PC’s speakers. When combined with the original 4 NFC Express functions (remote desktop, photo express, windows 8 logon, quick launch), NFC Express 2 is a nice complement to any ASUS Z97 build.

TrueVolt USB

Chances are you have a variety of USB devices of varying importance plugged into your PC. TrueVolt USB safeguards devices against voltage fluctuations.

In the case of devices such as USB DACs (digital to audio converters) voltage fluctuations can cause noise along the line leading to noise along the line, but these fluctuations, if not checked at the PSU level can even lead to things like data loss on external USB drives. TrueVolt USB consists of two isolated linear power paths directly from ATX power to the front and rear USB ports, ensuring clean, stable 5V power.

Wireless Charger

Introduced first on ASUS desktops, the wireless charger module is powered by USB and output 1.0A inductively to charge Qi-enabled mobile devices.

RAMDisk 2014

With 20x the speed of typical SSDs, RAM is an ideal staging area for large slow-loading game elements such as maps.

By storing either partial or full game installations into a virtual RAM drive, load times can be significantly improved. RAMDisk 2014 can even dynamically allocate RAM on-the-fly to and from the RAM drive so system memory can readily be made available when you need it.

ThunderboltEX II

Now you can easily add Thunderbolt™ 2 technology to your existing or planned ASUS Z97 build with the ASUS Thunderbolt EX II card.

Previously available only as an onboard feature on high-end motherboards, Thunderbolt™ 2 technology is now available on a wide variety of ASUS Z97 motherboards thanks to the ASUS ThunderboltEX II card. Easily add a Thunderbolt™ 2 port to your ASUS Z97 PC, whether it’s already been built, or still in planning stages.

ThunderboltEX II

Now you can easily add Thunderbolt™ 2 technology to your existing or planned ASUS Z97 build with the ASUS Thunderbolt EX II card.

Previously available only as an onboard feature on high-end motherboards, Thunderbolt™ 2 technology is now available on a wide variety of ASUS Z97 motherboards thanks to the ASUS ThunderboltEX II card. Easily add a Thunderbolt™ 2 port to your ASUS Z97 PC, whether it’s already been built, or still in planning stages.

Thunderbolt™ 2 Technology

With Thunderbolt 2 technology, users can take advantage of transfer speeds up to 20Gbps, enabling viewing and editing of raw 4K video, while backing up the same file in parallel. Higher-resolution and multi-monitor viewing is also possible with DisplayPort 1.2 support. And users can still easily expand computing capability by connecting up to six devices via a simple daisy-chain configuration. Thunderbolt 2 uses the same cables and connectors, and works with existing Thunderbolt PCs

Thunderbolt™ 2 Technology

With Thunderbolt 2 technology, users can take advantage of transfer speeds up to 20Gbps, enabling viewing and editing of raw 4K video, while backing up the same file in parallel. Higher-resolution and multi-monitor viewing is also possible with DisplayPort 1.2 support. And users can still easily expand computing capability by connecting up to six devices via a simple daisy-chain configuration. Thunderbolt 2 uses the same cables and connectors, and works with existing Thunderbolt PCs

Thunderbolt™ 2 Technology

With Thunderbolt 2 technology, users can take advantage of transfer speeds up to 20Gbps, enabling viewing and editing of raw 4K video, while backing up the same file in parallel. Higher-resolution and multi-monitor viewing is also possible with DisplayPort 1.2 support. And users can still easily expand computing capability by connecting up to six devices via a simple daisy-chain configuration. Thunderbolt 2 uses the same cables and connectors, and works with existing Thunderbolt PCs

Gamer’s Guardian

Gamer’s Guardian is a group of design and material choices on ROG boards that effectively make the build process easier and painless, while also enhancing reliability.

Q-slot and Q-DIMM make graphics card and memory installation both easier and more secure, while the black nickel-coated Q-shield protects your hands when installing the shield into the chassis. The rear exposed I/O utilizes stainless steel, which resists rust up to 3 times longer than ordinary panels. On a component level, incorporation of 10k black metallic capacitors, DRAM overcurrent protection, ESD guards and socket backplates help protect your motherboard over the long run.

Extreme Engine DIGI+ III

Utilizes the best components for precise digital power control, including NexFET MOSFETs, 60A BlackWing chokes and 10k Black Metallic Capacitors.